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'Always got a point to prove': Finn

Once deemed 'unselectable', the towering paceman could feature in the Champions Trophy after replacing the injured Chris Woakes

England seamer Steven Finn admits he will have "a point to prove" after being called up as an injury replacement for Chris Woakes.

Finn was officially added to England's Champions Trophy squad on Sunday after Woakes was ruled out of the tournament with a side strain picked up in Thursday's opening match against Bangladesh at The Oval.

Several commentators thought Finn had been hard done by to miss out on the squad in the first place after impressing in England's 2-1 ODI series win against Sri Lanaka that preceded the eight-team tournament.

Now granted a reprieve, and tipped to come straight into the starting XI for England's next match against New Zealand at Cardiff on Tuesday, Finn is out to make a statement.

"You've always got a point to prove when you have been in and out (of the team) a little bit," Finn told Sky Sports.

"You feel as though, if you get an opportunity, you want to go out there and take it, especially in a world tournament like this."

Woakes managed just two overs with the new ball against Bangladesh before leaving the field, playing no further part in the match.

Early England blow as Woakes suffers side strain

Finn proved his fitness yesterday with the England Lions in their thumping win against South Africa A in a List A match.

Finn picked up 2-49 in 8.3 overs as the Lions completed a 144-run win.

"Woakes is an excellent bowler and has been for England in white-ball and red-ball cricket for a long time," said Finn.

"I am obviously taller than the other guys around, so maybe there is a different element to that.

"But it's about keeping it very simple and very basic and trying to nail what you do well and hopefully take that into the games.

"I'm going into these training days leading in the game and if I get the call beyond that then great and I will try my best for my country."

The tall right-armer, once deemed "unselectable" by England during the 2013-14 Ashes summer, Finn comes in ahead of Stuart Broad, whose cause was championed by former England captain Nasser Hussain, and Toby Roland-Jones.

England stroll to first-up win over Bangladesh

New Zealand's former captain Brendon McCullum criticised England's team balance in their opening win against Bangladesh, saying they missed  a trick by playing seamer Jake Ball ahead of leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

Rashid, with 60 ODI scalps, is England's leading wicket taker, and the second most prolific wicket-taker in world cricket, since the 2015 World Cup.

England face New Zealand in Cardiff for their next match on Tuesday, before a semi-final qualification showdown looms with Australia at The Oval next Saturday.

The hosts' commanding eight-wicket victory in their opening match was thanks to a terrific ton from Joe Root, who himself was hobbled after appearing to roll his ankle while batting.

Skipper Eoin Morgan however insisted Root hadn't been in a great deal of pain.

"Joe is all right," Morgan told reporters after play.

"He wasn't in extreme pain. It was manageable.

"Given that we have four days between now and the next game, hopefully he'll rest up well and be fully fit."


Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy nation


Schedule


1 June – England beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

2 June – New Zealand v Australia, No Result

3 June – Sri Lanka lost to South Africa by 96 runs

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)


19 June – Reserve day (D)